Rose Conway-Walsh demands passport offices for Belfast and Derry
Rose Conway-Walsh questioned the Taoiseach about the need for permanent passport offices in Belfast and Derry after a sharp rise in applications from Irish citizens in the north since Brexit. She cited over 120,000 applications in 2024 and nearly 85,000 in 2023, and asked when a dedicated service would be established.
Rose Conway-Walsh set out the scale of demand from Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, noting more than 600,000 people hold Irish passports and highlighting the recent surge in applications since Brexit. She argued that, if the state can operate a passport office in London, it is reasonable to provide permanent offices closer to home in Belfast and Derry.
The Taoiseach responded that the Department of Foreign Affairs considers the service is moving online and has been moving away from creating new physical offices. He said the department has focused on speeding up passport turnaround times and that most applications are now submitted online.
Conway-Walsh pressed for clarity on when a permanent passport office would be put in place, stressing the convenience and fairness of a local service for hundreds of applicants. The exchange highlights a tension between digital service delivery and the demand for in-person access among citizens in the north.
The discussion frames a continuing policy debate about how to balance online public services with local access requirements, particularly in the post-Brexit context. The question remains whether the Department of Foreign Affairs will reconsider its position in light of sustained application numbers and political pressure.
Demand for local services
Rose Conway-Walsh set out the scale of demand from Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, noting more than 600,000 people hold Irish passports and highlighting the recent surge in applications since Brexit. She argued that, if the state can operate a passport office in London, it is reasonable to provide permanent offices closer to home in Belfast and Derry.
Government response and online shift
The Taoiseach responded that the Department of Foreign Affairs considers the service is moving online and has been moving away from creating new physical offices. He said the department has focused on speeding up passport turnaround times and that most applications are now submitted online.
Practical implications for citizens
Conway-Walsh pressed for clarity on when a permanent passport office would be put in place, stressing the convenience and fairness of a local service for hundreds of applicants. The exchange highlights a tension between digital service delivery and the demand for in-person access among citizens in the north.
Next steps and political context
The discussion frames a continuing policy debate about how to balance online public services with local access requirements, particularly in the post-Brexit context. The question remains whether the Department of Foreign Affairs will reconsider its position in light of sustained application numbers and political pressure.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, you know that there's over 600,000 Irish citizens in the north, or people who hold Irish passports, and obviously there's been a significant surge in Irish passport applications from citizens living in the north since Brexit. Over 120,000 applications received in 2024 and almost 85,000 last year. Given this sustained demand, do you agree that the Irish citizens in the north deserve a dedicated passport office? When is this going to happen? If the state can run a passport office in London, as it should, surely it is reasonable and necessary to establish a permanent passport office in Belfast and Derry to provide this basic public service closer to home for hundreds of Irish citizens in the north. Deputy Rose Connery, Walsh in terms of a dedicated passport office, it's been a hardy annual for some years. It's all online now, is the direction of travel. If you look at the stats, they're overwhelming. The Department of Foreign Affairs have been of a view for quite some time that they've moved away from the establishment of any new physical offices for symbolic reasons because the absolute bulk of applications are coming online. That's their view. I have a lot of sympathy with it, if I'm honest. They've concentrated a lot on getting very quick turnover now of passport applications if everything is in order and so on. The speed of response is quite significant and it's positive.